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Comments
Mileage: 40K miles/63K kms
Reliability: All's good with the PRO.
Would buy again? Oh yeah!!!
Dinu
I am in Ottawa but have been known to drive to Cornwall (100km) to service. Had the tranny fixed after two dealers in Ottawa could not fix it. As for the wheelcovers, I am going to get the oil changed and will inquire. Also, I will ask that they lube the seat springs, that might help the squeak. Drove an 03 PT Cruiser last night and loved it. May consider trading in the next year.
50K miles
Reliability: Great. Nothing but the usual maint.
Buy again? Absolutely (but I'll get the 2.4l!)
It looks like my car will be stuck at 50K for a while, too. Doctor said to not drive for a while after my achilles surgery. My son is happy about that. He might get my car with under 60K when he gets his license! Hmmm, good topic for the day. What was your first car and how many miles did it have? Mine was a '69 Mustang with about 110K. It had a 3 speed manual that would stall out quicker than you can blink!
Dan
Silver '02 ES 5-spd
http://autos.msn.com/userreviews/reviewlist.aspx?idmodel=10476&am- p;search=MostRecent&num=50&trim=All&lang=All
5. WHEELS:CAP:COVER:HUB
NHTSA Number: 634352
Bulletin Number: 0200102
Bulletin Date: MAR 2002
Vehicle: 2001 Mazda Protege
Summary:
SUBJECT REGARDING 15 INCH PLASTIC WHEEL COVER CRACK DURING REMOVAL. *SLC
Just tell your dealer you were removing the hubcaps to clean them and they cracked - that's what happened to one of mine. Another was cracked badly when the Potenzas gave up and I ended up plowing in a curb on snow - those tires wore out by 30.000kms.
Dinu
Dinu
1. Competitive pricing - YES
2. Youthful, sporty styling - YES
3. Powerful brakes (Protege5) - YES
4. Almost sporty handling - ALMOST? THE SPORTIEST IN ITS CLASS
5. Driving pleasure (Mazdaspeed) - SAME AS ABOVE
6. Surprising ride comfort - MORE OR LESS
7. Quality assembly and finish - YES
Cons
1. Lackluster performance (except Mazdaspeed) - B.S.!
2. Light, overassisted steering - AT TIMES
3. Fuzzy manual gearbox - DON'T KNOW
4. Unpleasant torque steer (2.0L) - IN THE RAIN W/POTENZAS
5. Unstable stops without ABS - ABS STOPS ARE MORE SURE-FOOTED, NO DOUBT
6. Difficult to read instruments at night - NOT FOR MY EYES
7. Slow windshield wipers (Protege5) - DON'T KNOW
Acceleration and passing power are disappointing with both engines because of the unfavorable weight-to-power ratio. - DID THIS GUY DRIVE A PORSCHE GT3 BEFORE THE PRO?
http://autos.msn.com/vip/heraudover.aspx?make=Mazda&model=Pro- tege&src=reviewers
-------------------------------------------------
He does mention he drove the Canadian SE, which is the DX in the US - a bare-bones car. No wonder he b*!c#e$ non-stop.
Dinu
Anyway:
'99 Pro LX.
Sunrise Red! (nice and bright and happy)
Almost 49000 miles.
Still lovin' it, despite the factory stereo problems (and the occasional AT stumble and shock).
Definitely would buy again, but in P5 form.
Dinu
Does anyone notice what seems to be a misfire by either an injector or a plug while accelerating? I am starting to find this after shifting from second to third. I feel a hesitation and them the car starts to take off.
Dan
'02 ES 5-spd
Is there such a model? it sounds like a dealer special model to me.. I know there's a DX LX and ES model.. but sport? hmm Any ideas what this might be, before i make a visit to the dealer at the weekend?
I'm guessing its a modified DX or something, having said that is it a good deal for a dx at that price?
Thanks in advance
Craig
Just to put things in perspective, my brother's 2002 Honda Civic EX with 15,000 miles has all kinds of noises coming from both sides of the front end as well as rattles from the rear speaker deck. I carpool with my brother now, so I ride in his car every other week. He drives on the same crappy roads as I do and his front suspension sounds like it has 150,000 miles on it. That Civic is NOT built as well as my 92' Integra was. He had a 90' Accord EX coupe before the Civic and even he says that the Accord was a tighter car, even after 130,000 miles. Somethin's up with the new Hondas, at least the Civics. I sold my Protege ES with almost 30,000 miles and the suspension was still tight.
MY FIRST CAR: Was a 1949 Plymouth sedan with 12,000 miles on it, paid $1,100 for it. I sold it to my Dad when I went into the Air Force in 1952, he put 125,000 miles on it, four seat cover sets, and six sets of tires before selling it.
It had a true chrome grille on the front and a chrome grille over the radio speaker on the dash. In those days chrome was tripple-plated over cast metal. The dash was simulated wood, not plastic, hand-painted to look like wood. Very expensive to do these days and usually done only in luxury homes. The engine was a 90hp inline six with 3-speed tranny mounted on the steering wheel column. Radio was a single speaker AM. Rubber floor mats.
Windshield was two piece. Door armrests and back-up lights dealer installed options. Turn signaling was out the window with the hand.
My how times have changed. Recently I was behind a car the driver had his arm out the window and wondered what that idiot was pointing at, then realized his turn signal was broken.
fowler3
The Ford Ranger, Mazda B is not a bad small truck. It is less reliable that toyotas and nissans, but performs better. It is much more reliable than Chrysler's and GM's small trucks.
It does have some American vehicle attributes I dislike, but my "94 B4000 5sp is a decent pickup. Too bad I can't use my metric tools on it, though.
My suggestion for a squeeky seat: Chew your food better.
- "It was refreshed in 1999...": right, but it was improved again in 2001!
- "warranty 3 years/50,000 miles": Hellooooo, It's been 4 years/50,000 for a while now.
- "double trapezoidal control arms with stabilizer bars both front and rear on all versions.". Give me a break! Has he look underneath the car? There is none multi-trapezoidal in front and with all due respect, despite the name, the TTL has nothing to do with double trapezoidal (wishbones).
- "The 1.6 and 2.0-liter engines are built entirely of aluminum": Huhhh? The engine block of the 2.0l is cast iron.
- "Cons: Light, over assisted steering": Did he lost the front wheels while testing? The Pro steering is anything but overassisted. In addition, it's one of the less multiplied steering mechanic, the ratio is no more than 15/1.
- "Fuzzy manual gearbox", "Unpleasant torque steer (2.0L)": I bet he was born with some muscle in his left arm that swaps into his right arm.
- "However, ABS is standard on the ES and Protege5 only.". Thank god, no! Mazda wouldn't waist money and force all costumers to be stuck with such device that wouldn't necessary improve the safety (for certain driver).
- "Acceleration and passing power are disappointing with both engines because of the unfavorable weight-to-power ratio.": Weight-to-power ratio is average comparing to the competition. True for weak acceleration, but No way the passing power is disappointing.
He only makes one good point in the entire review: "Braking: Models fitted with 4-wheel discs perform much better [than disk/drum]."
Bruno
We can assume that disc/discs are NOT better than disc/drums ...?
Hmmmmm?????
Yes, I HAD to do it!!!
Meade
Dinu: you are right, some Protegé have a deer magnet, it's called a drum rear brake!
Sorry Meade, I couldn't help...
I don't think any car with any kind of brakes could do a 40-to-zero stop in, oh, three feet. And with all four wheels locked in a skid, I don't think whatever material is clamping the rotors makes much difference.
So let's fight over ABS vs. non-ABS!!!
Meade
Lol. I barely hit a deer with my 4 wheel disc Protege. I didn't lock the brakes (I used the "threshold braking technique), so ABS wouldn't have helped. Had my car been equipped with rear drums, I probably would have slammed into the deer, sending the deer through my windsheild.
Nothing much can save you from a deer you can't see until it jumps out of the dark woods and smacks you in the .........
On topic, my Pro is still sitting on 50K (sigh). I love my wife, but boy does her driving make me nervous! I'll be glad when I can get behind my pedals again!
Hope you heal soon and can Zoom Zoom again right away!
Sorry I don't have any deer stories. I haven't run into any yet (guess 'cause I have discs?).
Dan
As for the Accuracy Committee ... I will change my above phrase for the sake of you.
"And with all four wheels locked in a skid, I don't think whatever material is clamping the front rotors and rear drums/rotors makes much difference."
Happy?
Meade
While on a disc you get all the instruments, plus voice, and a whole variety of sounds.
No, you're right -- discs are THE way to go.
Meade
Mileage: 61,800
Problems: Minor here and there covered under warranty (door lock acutator, hazard light button, warped steering boot at 600 miles...all fixed under warranty)
Will buy again: YES!!!
Say it with me ... F-U-N-N-Y.
No, I really haven't installed a turntable in my car.
I wonder, if you did, if you could get some cool rap effects by doing donuts left and right -- you'd need a vehicle with the Protege's tight turning radius and excellent skidpad characteristics to take full advantage of this effect!
Hmmm, I DO have an old Technics belt-drive and a 120-to-12 inverter ... AND our humble, rear-drummed 2000s have RCA INPUTS on the back of our receivers, unlike those newfangled, modular noiseboxes in your post-2000 sedans and P5s like my wife's ...
Meade
Mileage: 61,800!!!
Will buy again: Nope, already bought it once!!!
I dunno - I enjoyed my left turns more (Pro felt better doing them - weight ratio, drive axle length disparity?)
Bruno
Thanks for asking!
Ooops, you didn't ...
Meade